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Restoration of Services of community watchers of CGNP demanded

By Zahiruddin

CHITRAL: The Chitral Gol Community Development and Conservation Association (CGCDCA) president Hussain Ahmed and other office-bearers Mirza Alam, Molvi Faizullah, Naib Khan has demanded of chief minister and minister of environment to adjust the services of the community watchers of Chitral Gol National Park to save the conservation process from being ruined. Addressing a press conference here on Monday, they said that Chitral Gol National Park Project will terminate on 31st July and with that the services of twenty four community watchers will also lose their jobs. They feared that if the watchers are fired, then the poachers will get a free hand in the national park to squander its precious and unique biodiversity. They observed that the population of kashmir markhor had dropped to only 300 five years ago when the project was launched but now its population stands at 1200 due to the vigilance of the watchers. They said that as per project document of the national park, a sum of 40 million rupees was to be provided to the association to carry on the project but no such facility was made available. They said that the CDCDCA is the representative body of the national park entrusted with the responsibilities of managing its affairs and all the assets of the projects were to be transferred to it. They alleged misappropriation of funds in the project in large scale and said that the affected people of the area have been neglected who used to derive their livelihood from the national park. They warned the government that the people of all the eleven affected villages will launch protest if the services of the community watchers are terminated. They alleged that the project manager and chief conservator of wild life are not serious about the success of the project and demanded inquiry against them.

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Federal Minister Arbab Alamgir Khan on 3 days visits to Chitral

By Our Correspondent

CHITRAL: Federal minister of communication Arbab Alamgir Khan reached here on Monday on three-day visit to Chitral. Sources said that the minister will visit the ongoing Lowari Tunnel Project on Tuesday and meet the party workers of PPP in Chitral during his stay in the city. Meanwhile, talking to a number of delegations on Monday, he said that completion of Lowari tunnel project, starting work on Chitral-Tajikistan road and construction of Chitral to Shandur road by National Highway Authority are three main projects which will bring about revolution in the area.